Del Toro’s ‘Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark’ Finally Receives Funding to Film

Previously, iHorror reported on the confirmation that Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark would be receiving a film adaption. Initially, Guillmero Del Toro was set to direct the film, but instead was reassigned to produce the film. Instead, André Øvredal (Trollhunter and The Autopsy of Jane Doe) will be the film’s director.

Recently, Deadline announced that Entertainment One will be joining CBS films to co-finance the film. This is to say, the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark now has a solid budget to commence filming.

Writers Daniel and Kevin Hageman will join together with Del Toro to adapt the film’s script. Along with Del Toro producing for the film, the other producers will include Sean Daniel (TheJackal and The Scorpion King), Elizabeth Grave (Almost and Newness), Jason F. Brown (Ben-Hur and American Dream), and J. Miles Dale (Mama and The Shape of Water).

It doesn’t seem anyone has been announced to be in charge of casting, but it shouldn’t be long since principal photography will be underway soon.

Image via Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

While no release date has been announced for the book-to-film adaptation, principal photography will begin this summer in Toronto, Canada. As for anything concerning the plot written for adaptation, nothing too in depth has surfaced yet.

The current plot description is vague but intriguing;

Scary Stories to Tell In The Dark follows a group of young teens who must solve the mystery surrounding sudden and macabre deaths in their small town.

Image via Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

It’s been a long time coming to finally see this book series receive a film adaption. Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark is often reminisced upon as a “children’s” book series which contained some of the most perturbed and unsettling horror imagery by Stephen Gammell.

The anthology of stories ranged from laughable reads like Sam’s New Pet to genuinely disturbing ones such as The Red Spot or Harold. It’s a reassuring notion to see Del Toro on the crew of professionals who will see to it that Gammell’s horrifying art is brought to life.

Horror is not always meant to cross over to the realm of children’s entertainment. While Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark certainly serves as an acceptable example for children’s horror, surprising a young audience with a trailer for Hereditary before they see Peter Rabbit does not seem to be the ideal cross over of horror to children’s entertainment. If you want to check out how that fiasco unfolded, you can check out our article here.